Good morning.

The United States has launched new military strikes against Iran, a Texas jury has delivered a murder conviction in a case that drew national attention, and Vice President JD Vance is pushing the Justice Department to review allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services system.

U.S. Launches Strikes Against Iran After Apache Downing

The United States has begun military strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump blamed Tehran for shooting down an American Army AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command said American forces launched “self-defense” strikes Tuesday evening, characterizunf the operation as a proportional response to Iranian aggression.

The Apache went down Monday night near the Omani coast while conducting patrol operations. Both crew members survived and were rescued within roughly two hours. American forces reportedly used an unmanned surface vessel to locate and recover the pilots, marking the first known operational rescue of downed American personnel by a naval drone boat.

Trump publicly accused Iran of bringing down the aircraft and said the United States had to respond. But he also appeared to downplay the incident later, reportedly telling The Wall Street Journal it was “not a big deal” because both pilots survived and diplomatic talks were still ongoing.

The strikes now threaten to destabilize a fragile ceasefire that had reduced direct hostilities between Iran, Israel, and American forces. CENTCOM has not yet disclosed what targets were hit or whether there were casualties.

Texas Jury Convicts Karmelo Anthony Of Murder

A Texas jury found 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet.

Jurors reached the verdict in under four hours of deliberation.

Anthony was charged in the April 2025 killing after he stabbed Metcalf in the chest over a seating dispute at Memorial High School. Metcalf had reportedly asked Anthony to leave an area reserved for students from his school.

Anthony claimed self-defense, but prosecutors argued the evidence showed he escalated the confrontation. Witnesses testified that Anthony refused repeated requests to leave and warned Metcalf not to touch him while keeping his hand inside his bag.

A key defense witness also struggled under cross-examination after prosecutors introduced video evidence suggesting he could not have seen the events he initially described.

Anthony now faces a possible sentence ranging from five years to life in prison under Texas law.

Vance Refers Minnesota Fraud Allegations To DOJ

Vice President JD Vance has referred allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs to the Justice Department for possible criminal investigation.

The referral follows a 205-page House Oversight Committee report claiming senior Minnesota officials were warned for years about rampant fraud in federally funded programs but failed to act. The report also alleges whistleblowers faced retaliation after raising concerns.

The allegations involve several high-profile scandals, including the Feeding Our Future case and childcare and Medicaid programs.

Vance said the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division should examine whether Minnesota officials facilitated fraud, ignored warnings, misled investigators, or retaliated against whistleblowers.

Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have denied wrongdoing and accused Republicans of politicizing fraud investigations.

The referral does not mean charges will be filed, and the Justice Department has not announced whether it will open a formal investigation.